Chapter 8- Chapter eight takes place in a small town by the name of Maycomb, Alabama. For the first time in four years Maycomb is having a real winter with snow constantly falling. When the snow first started falling Scout nearly died. She thought the world was going to end. However Atticus confirmed it was just snow. One sad thing that happens in chapter eight is good old Mrs. Radley passes during the beginning of winter months. In chapter eight the children enjoy playing outside despite the cold temperatures. The craziest thing that happened in chapter eight was Miss. Maudie's house burnt down through fire. It was a crazy event at that time in Maycomb. These were some of the main events that took place in chapter eight.…
The Mad Dog: Tim Johnson was a dog infected with rabies that needed to be put down. The dog is a symbol of racism in the novel. Racism is getting out of control (just like the dog), and it needs to be put to a stop. Atticus shoots the dog to put him down but racism is a harder challenge to try and defeat. Atticus has to do things he doesn’t want to, like killing a dog and facing the court room.…
Contrarily, the rabid dog, Mayella, and Bob represent moral inequity. The dog's "left" legs are healthy; Mayella's "left" eye is healthy; and Bob is "left" handed. The rabid dog presents a physical threat to Maycomb County, but Mayella and Bob present a social threat--the perpetuation of racism. Atticus's virtue only enables him to eliminate the physical threat. That the jury convicts Tom in the end signals that Atticus loses his battle against racism.…
However, after Tom Robinson is convicted for a crime that he clearly did not commit, Atticus’ mercy for humanity begins to waver. Even though he knows that this case was inherently against Robinson, he still feels distraught that the jury was prejudiced enough to declare a man guilty, only because of the color of his skin. After the verdict, Atticus “... left the courtroom, but not by his usual exit. He must have wanted to go home the short way, because he walked quickly down the middle aisle toward the south exit… He did not look up.” (Lee, 215). Throughout the novel, Lee has created Atticus as the wise figure who seeks the goodness in everything.. He teaches Jem and Scout to walk in one’s shoes before judging them and that the surface of one's life does not accurately portray what is within. This scene shows that human malevolence can change Atticus’ attitude, despite how strongly he feels that every human has a part of them that is pure. Lee’s juxtaposition of Atticus’ character gives the reader insight on how an incident that involves the abuse of human virtue can change one’s attitude and…
“The Help” and “To kill a Mockingbird” are two astonishing reads. These novels are a must read…
In To Kill A Mockingbird, there is a mad dog called Tim Johnson that has rabies. This dog represents many things. It is a symbol of all the things Atticus will have to do, but would rather not and that the disease of the town has to die but will not be erased immediately. It represents the things that Atticus doesn’t want to fight but has to. When he sees the dog he tells Heck to kill the dog. “ Don’t waste time, Heck,” said Atticus “Go on.” “ Mr.Finch, this is a one-shot job.” Atticus shook his head vehemently” this quote shows that Atticus didn’t want to shoot the dog, but then “ the rifle cracked” Atticus shot the dog. This event is the first of many events were Atticus does something he didn’t want to do. Another event in which Atticus…
When there was a mad dog in town someone had to solve the problem by shooting it. Everyone knew Atticus could shoot the best in the town except Jem and Scout. When the children found out that their dad had the best shot in Maycomb, they were amazed, yet shocked. Jem is so impressed and surprised that he said to Scout, “’d you see him, Scout? ’d you see him just standin’ there?...’n’ all of a sudden that gun was a part of him…” (129). Atticus believes that it is best for him to keep this part of him to himself in order to maintain the way Jem and Scout viewed him. Atticus did not want his kids to see him as reckless and crazy, but rather as wise and gentle. Atticus Finch clearly forms a public identity because of everything he tried to do for Tom Robinson in the trial. Atticus wants to show people that it is important to value equality and justice in the world. Many people in town do not quite understand why Atticus is defending Tom but he explains to Scout, “if I didn’t I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this county in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you or Jem not to do something again” (100). Atticus believes that if he does not do this that people will not respect him as much as they did and he will not be able to respect himself. No matter what, Atticus will always do his best to set a good example for his…
As most people have read the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, many have wondered, what contributes most to the story’s themes? Well, throughout the novel, there are three main literary elements that come into play. In the passage “‘It ain’t right, Atticus…”’(pg.284) to “I looked up, and his face was vehement”(pg.296), Harper Lee uses the literary element character, setting, and tone to develop the theme that recognizing perspectives contributes to coming of age. As many other themes in the novel, the theme will show a change in how Jem starts to view the world, and the major roles included in it, such as racism. But his perspective comes mostly from the kind of character he is.…
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Jem demonstrates moral growth by understanding the way society works. Boo Radley never wants to come outside of his house, but then he starts to realize that Jem and Scout are in danger, and also that the community he lives in is never going change. After that he decides to come outside and to come to the kids’ rescue. Jem says, “Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time... it's because he wants to stay inside."(Pg. 259) Here, Jem realizes there is not one reason that stops Boo from coming outside, it is just because he wants to. This passage sticks out to one because one of the main characters has an aha moment…
Jodi Picoult said, “Kids think with their brains cracked wide open; becoming an adult, I've decided, is only a slow sewing shut.” In the town of Maycomb, Alabama, in the middle of the Great Depression, six-year-old Scout Finch lives with her older brother Jem, and her father Atticus who is a lawyer. One year a boy named Dill spends the summer with his aunt. The three children become friends and soon become obsessed with a nearby house. The next year, Atticus is appointed by the court to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping Mayella Ewell, the daughter of a poor, notoriously vicious white man named Bob Ewell. Atticus presents a powerful defense of Tom and makes it clear that Ewell is lying. Jem is convinced Atticus will win the case, but the all-white jury still convicts Tom. Jem…
Authors often have a very good reason for choosing a particular personality for their story’s narrator. Scout was a vital character in the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Her impartial outlook on life and people was highly voluntary in order to produce the theme and message that Harper Lee was sending to her readers. Many of the events in the story would not have happened or would have occurred very differently if the novel was told through the eyes of an adult narrator. Even though Scout’s narration is often faulty or inaccurate, her innocence often allows readers to see the events and characters in the novel more clearly.…
In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, the main theme is that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. This metaphor of not killing mockingbird is clearly portrayed throughout the course of this novel. This theme is so important to the plot of this novel that the author decided to entitle the book after this very metaphor. Mockingbirds are birds that do not do anything wrong and they just give us music. Atticus is the main character in the novel that really stressed why it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Mockingbirds are just a simple metaphor for the characters in this book who are killed, such as Mr. Raymond and Tom Robinson.…
An accusation based off of circumstantial evidence, a charismatic witness, and a life-changing conviction were only a few of the elements that caused major tension in the courtroom on July 19th. If you’re one of the few that didn’t come out to hear the gossip material of the year, we have all the juicy and intriguing details.…
Likewise, the death of Tom Robinson much resembled killing a mockingbird, he did nothing wrong, and only helped people. Mockingbirds are used to represent the destruction of innocence. “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it,” said Harper Lee. Atticus was a very strong caring individual that just wanted to help the…
The wonderful story that is To Kill A Mockingbird has been around for a long while, and has a lot to say. There is so much to it such as many themes, symbolism, and imagery. A world wide phenomenal book which was later turned into a movie. There are many similarities and differences in the book To Kill A Mockingbird and the film that was based upon it.…